The American Red Cross has announced that 18 volunteers from the Connecticut and Rhode Island region have been deployed south to help with relief efforts for Hurricane Michael.

From southeastern Connecticut, Joe Apicelli from Groton, Ann Ashe from Ledyard, Wayne Dailey from Mystic, Donna Hathaway from Uncasville and David Llewellyn from Niantic are all going to Tallahassee, Florida, according to a Red Cross news release issued Thursday.

Their respective functions will be feeding, sheltering, disaster mental health and health services.

They are among more than 800 trained disaster workers the Red Cross has mobilized, and some had been deployed to the Carolinas last month after Hurricane Florence.

Hurricane Michael hit the Gulf Coast on Wednesday as the third-strongest hurricane in U.S. history, the Red Cross said.

"We're just beginning to understand the level of destruction, and we know that getting help into some of these areas will be challenging," said Brad Kieserman, vice president of disaster operations and logistics. "Right now, our immediate focus is on making sure people have a safe place to stay."

Those looking to donate money for disaster relief can visit redcross.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS.